Driftwood Craft Kitchen & Cocktail Bar — Restaurant in Surf City

Excellent food, drinks, but slow service... read below for details.

The night we arrived, there was a rather large wedding party. We arrived without a reservation and were seated in the patio in a breezy 65 Degree weather and there were no heaters. We asked to be moved away from the breeze and were accommodated. It took 15 minutes until we met the Waiter. He was kind, elegant and knowledgeable. It took another 15 minutes to get our cocktails, and another 15 minutes to get the appetizer, and finally another 20 minutes to get our dinner. Our waiter apologized every time citing the backed up bar tender and "Chef."

We got the grilled octopus as the appetizer which was totally delicious and the presentation was beautiful. Being an adventurous foodie, I asked to get the Local Catch - Chef's Choice and my wife got the Pork Chop. Both were decadent overall. My fish was a bit bland at first but then I spread the sauce and it was wonderful. The dessert we got was the pumpkin pie and it was pretty much PERFECT!

So, I can see (and taste) what they are trying to do at Driftwood. An upscale restaurant in a casual beachy environment. Tough combination; but not impossible. Google searches did not reveal who the owner(s) or the Chefs are. Which makes me assume that the menu was bought and is being made by someone who is NOT professional chef, which is perfectly OK for small areas like Surf City, NC.

If service was a bit more timely, I would have given it 5 stars. This evening was probably a one off due to the large wedding party which demanded a lot of attention from the wait staff, kitchen, and the bar. To be clear, the server(s) were NOT at fault. They were just very busy.

My wife and I agreed that Driftwood requires another visit done with a proper reservation and inside seating so as to make my review as fair as possible.

Recommendations for the owners of Driftwood: Outside heaters. If you don't have enough staff, please don't pack the restaurant. Its perfectly OK to have people wait. Especially for walk-ins. Upscale restaurants really need to address service quality just as much as the quality dishes. New menus should be printed every night. The ones given to us were all wrinkly and not nice. Kids menu is a good idea instead of just...

We’ve been to Driftwood twice now, once for dinner and once for brunch, and both experiences were excellent.

The atmosphere is upscale yet relaxed, with a bright coastal feel and thoughtful décor. One of the highlights is the glass garage door that opens to a spacious patio, giving it a breezy, inviting vibe. The wine program is another standout. They feature a signature wine cooler that holds hundreds of bottles, and during dinner service, there’s even a sommelier to help guide selections—something you don’t often find in this area.

For dinner, we had the Red Snapper, which was beautifully presented and an impressively large portion. The fish was cooked perfectly, served with long grain wild rice and a flavorful tomato fumé that complemented the dish without overpowering it. The arugula salad with peaches, pickled onions, and toasted almonds was fresh, balanced, and delicious. Everything we tried reflected a chef-driven approach with attention to detail.

We also returned for brunch this past Sunday and were just as impressed. The French Toast and Eggs Benedict were both outstanding—classic dishes elevated with Driftwood’s own refined touches. Portions were generous, and the flavors were spot on.

Overall, Driftwood manages to deliver an elevated dining experience while keeping it approachable. Between the coastal atmosphere, exceptional wine selection, and thoughtful menu, this is a restaurant we’ll definitely keep...

Won't be returning!! Came to the beach to relax and unwind. Hard to find, limited menu and high prices!!! Asked if they could switch the broccolini that came with the pork chop for the spinach that came with another entree and was told the chef carefully puts sides that go best with the entree so no, not possible. I then asked if I could get a side of spinach, again no. Wow! I have never been to any restaurant that would not switch up vegetables!!! Or...at least give you a side...! And, the last time I checked spinach also goes very well with pork chops. I ended up ordering the muscles over linguini special with crostini. The crostini are usually good at the end to soak up all the fabulous broth....there was no broth. When I pointed out there was no broth for the crostini the waitress pointed out it was due to the pasta soaking it up. You think someone would have brought a little cup of broth but sadly, no again. The menu is as is and there are NO changes. Ok, well, because of your inflexible and ridiculous policy you lost a customer. What restaurant doesn't try to accommodate their paying customers??? It's not like I was asking to make something unique that wasn't on the menu. I just preferred a different vegetable!!!! One that was already there ready for another entree!!! So...